The 2026 Little League Softball World Series is set for a historic milestone as every game airs on ESPN’s linear platforms for the first time ever.

The blockbuster broadcast expansion follows a record-shattering 2025 championship game that averaged 1.44 million viewers, a 139% surge from the previous year, according to Little League.

While this year's field is still taking shape, Greenville, North Carolina, and the August 2-9 tournament dates are officially locked in as qualification battles begin.

A dozen teams — eight from the U.S. and four international contenders — will punch their tickets through regional tournaments.

Here are the must-know dates as the road to the Little League Softball World Series officially begins.

When is the Little League Softball World Series?

The 2026 Little League Softball World Series will take place from August 2 to August 9, 2026 in Greenville, North Carolina.

Where is the softball Little League World Series?

Greenville, North Carolina, has been the home of Little League Softball’s biggest event since 2021. The upcoming showdown marks the sixth straight year Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park will host the premier championship event.

When are the Little League Softball regional tournaments?

The United States Little League Softball regional tournaments occurred between July 17 and July 23, 2026. The Little League Softball international tournaments were played earlier this year − with the exception of the Canada Region Tournament, which is from July 23-28, 2026.

Here's a detailed breakdown of what happened in the U.S. Little League Softball regional tournaments and the teams that won

Team that won: Daviess County Little League (Owensboro, Kentucky)

• Region Tournament Record: 4-1

• League LLSWS Appearance: 1st

• State LLSWS Appearance: 2nd

• Little League Charter Since: 2025

Team that won: Toms River Little League (Toms River, New Jersey)

• State LLSWS Appearance: 5th

• Little League Charter Since: 2021

Team that won: Bristol Girls Softball Little League (Bristol, Connecticut)

• Region Tournament Record: 3-0

• Little League Charter Since: 2008

Team that won: Johnston County Little League (Clayton, North Carolina)

• State LLSWS Appearance: 5th as host, 16th overall

• Little League Charter Since: 1993 (baseball), 2023 (softball)

Team that won: Snohomish Little League (Snohomish, Washington)

• League LLSWS Appearance: 2nd (1st under the current name of the charter)

• Team that won: Lake Mary Little League (Lake Mary, Florida)

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  • Region Tournament Record: 4-0

  • League LLSWS Appearance: 4th

  • State LLSWS Appearance: 13th

  • Little League Charter Since: 1981

  Team that won: Greater Helotes Little League (Helotes, Texas)

  • Region Tournament Record: 3-1

  • League LLSWS Appearance: 2nd

  • State LLSWS Appearance: 19th

  • Little League Charter Since: 1987

  Team that won: Live Oak Little League (Live Oak, California)

  • State LLSWS Appearance: 8th

  • Little League Charter Since: 1967 (baseball), year unknown (softball)

  Team that won: Kinki Softball Little League (Japan)

  • Region Tournament Record: 2-0

  • League LLSWS Appearance: 1st

  • Country LLSWS Appearance: 2nd

  • Little League Charter Since: 2025

  Europe & Africa Region

  Team that won: Emilia Romagna Little League (Bologna, Italy)

  • Region Tournament Record: 5-1

  • League LLSWS Appearance: 3rd

  • Country LLSWS Appearance: 9th

  • Little League Charter Since: 2006

  Team that won: Guayama Softball Little League (Guayama, Puerto Rico) 

  • Region Tournament Record: 5-0

  • Country LLSWS Appearance: 17th

  • Little League Charter Since: 2018

  What channel is the softball Little League World Series on?

  The 2026 Little League Softball World Series will be broadcast on ESPN platforms, with the championship game airing on ABC. Games will also be available to stream on ESPN+.

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  • Dates: August 2nd - August 9th

  • TV: ESPN, ESPN2, ABC

  • Location: Greenville, North Carolina

  How old are the players in the Little League Softball World Series?

  Softball players must be ages 10-12 to participate in the Little League Softball World Series, according to Little League.

  What is the schedule for the 2026 Little League Softball World Series?

  Little League International unveiled the first-round matchups for the 2026 Little League Softball World Series on June 9.

  Twelve powerhouse teams from around the globe will battle across the Purple and Orange brackets with championship dreams on the line.

  The randomly drawn pairings have created can't-miss clashes as the world's brightest young stars prepare for softball's biggest stage. Here is the full day-by-day schedule for the whole tournament, starting with the opening-round matchups.

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• Game 1: (Purple): Northwest vs. Southeast, 10 a.m. ESPN2

• Game 2: (Orange): Mid-Atlantic vs. Asia-Pacific, 1 p.m. ESPN2

• Game 3: (Orange): West vs. Central, 4 p.m. ESPN2

• Game 4: (Purple): Canada vs. North Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN2

How does a North Carolina softball team qualify for the Little League Softball World Series?

A North Carolina softball team can earn its way into the Little League Softball World Series bracket in one of two ways, according to Little League. "As the host state of the event, the champion of the North Carolina Little League Softball tournament is granted direct entry into the LLSWS, while the runner-up of that tournament will have the opportunity to compete through the Southeast Region Tournament to earn a bid as the Southeast Region Champion," said Kevin Fountain, Senior Director of Communications for Little League International